"Hello?"

"Hello this is Zooey smith calling from Seattle academy I have a student here whose parents have not picked her up from school and as policy states I need to call a social worker because it has been a few hours and this has happened for the past three weeks." I hate these calls they seem so unnecessary compared to other one I have had. Don't get me wrong I understand the teacher is upset but it's an academy student, which happens to be the most exclusive and expensive school in Seattle well probably all of Washington. The child's parents are probably just working. But at least she has parent most kids I see daily do not. Well they do but they are usually into drugs or in prison.

"Miss?" I guess I really should pay attention

"I'm sorry I'll be right there." Obviously. I tell her.

"Thank you this is Carolina Reid correct?" It's probably some young intern who calls and doesn't ask who they are talking to

"Yes. I'll be there soon about twenty minutes." I hang up quickly. I'm not in the mood for being polite at the moment well I haven't been in a good mood in a while being a social worker isn't all I thought it would be I thought I would be helping people making their life better but lately it seems like all I do is visit people's homes of abused children. They lie and say everything is fine. Their parents lie and say they are so close and the next day I get a call from the hospital saying there is an unidentified child with signs of physical abuse. And then they are placed into protective custody. It's really becoming a routine. If one would just talk to me that really would be helpful. So I get into my ford escape and start driving. As usual traffic sucks but that s probably because I'm so used to the Nebraska road and the Nebraska traffic which was non-existent. I get to the academy and it's nice. It has a college campus feel even though it is only an elementary school. As I walk into. The office I notice that the campus is deserted only about three or four cars and it about 8:30pm so there after school extra curricular activities must have finished.

Walking into the receptionist desk I notice a little girl. She's beautiful. The most striking blue eyes I have ever seen but they are sad she is playing with her hands and I can see her calves they have some bruising but they are more of a yellowing color so that must mean that they are days old. I don't think she noticed me when I walked in but as the door closes behind me she looks up and her eyebrows move to form a little v just above her nose. For an academy student she sure doesn't look rich. Her hair is oily and has many tangles. Her clothes although they are her uniform have obviously been worn for too long. The sleeves on her white button up shirt are much to short and the khaki shorts she is wearing are also short. But she's quite beautiful. Her parents must be pretty attractive to have had her. That's right her parents the reason I'm here.

"Hello I'm Carolina Reid. Lina for short I was called about a child here." I say to the receptionist.

"Thank you for coming. I'm Joan Bailey I'm the assistant principal." Oops I guess not the receptionist. "Everyday for the past three weeks her parents have failed to pick her up until after 9pm after. They usually don't answer the phone until after six but I have called and they haven't picked up. And like I said policy states... "

"I know the policy the only thing I can do is take her to her home because her parents have picked her up. Late obviously but there isn't much more the system only interferes in extreme situations." I interrupted her but I don't care I know the policy I don't need her to remind me. And her voice is a bit annoying to be honest.

She walks toward the little girl and kneels in front of her.

"Isabelle miss Reid is going to take you home okay?" The little girl Isabelle apparently seems to trust her that's nice not many kids have that.

I walk toward her and give her a small smile. "I'm Lina. Are you ready to go home?" She shrugged. Not much of a talker. Well let's go she picks up her bag and picks her sweater up from the floor.

"I can take you backpack so you can wear your sweater is cold outside. You can use my umbrella it's raining outside. "

She puts her sweater on and we start walking outside and it walk next to her and she grabs my hand and stops I see Mrs. Bailey walk out to her car and quickly leaves as I wait for Isabelle to talk. And then she does.

"I'm not ready."

"Not ready for what.?" I ask

"To go home. I'm hungry and there is no food at home. Can I stay here." Those eyes I don't want to say no but the school is closed and the only other place she can eat at in my care is at a hospital.

"What happened to your legs." I ask I don't really know why I asked that so suddenly. Oh wait I do I need her to tell me so that I can have a reason to take her to the hospital.

"My mommy pushed me into the stairs." She whispers

Wow not many kids would just admit it so easily why didn't she tell her teacher that? But right one it doesn't mater she told me and now I can take her to the hospital.

"Ok well we have to go to the hospital and make sure that you are okay and that you didn't break anything is that okay?"

"Can I still get food?" She must really be hungry if she agreed to a hospital.

"Of course you can meet my friend she's really nice her name is grace she likes to help kids just like you. "

She nods her head and takes my hand again. She doesn't say another word on the way there. But I did try to ask her things. How old are you? Do you have any sisters or brothers? Favorite color?

As we park I turn around and ask her "are you ready?" She looks at me and nods and smiles sadly.